Bottle labeling device



J. c. ROBINSAON 2,207,945

BOTTLE LABELING DEVICE July 16, 1940.

Filed Nov. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l l W W ii jl R W L L ATTORNEYS.

July 16, 1940. c ROBlNSON 2,207,945

BOTTLE LABELING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1938- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 230 iy- Z 1 N VIEN TOR, Jafiv 6T @&//750/2 BY f 05m.

Patented July 16 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in bottle labeling devices wherein the various operations, such asv bottle moistening, label positioning, and label sealing are manually performed by moving the bottle through various positions with relation to the severalunits of the device, which are relatively positioned on a common base to insure accuracy and speed of operation.

' The principal object of the invention is the provision of a bottle labeling device having'means whereby a stack of labels is sustained and guided and whereby the bottle to be labeled is guided to insure a predetermined position relative to the top label of said stack. 1|

A further object of this invention is the provision of adjustable means whereby the relative positions of the bottle and stack of labels may be easily and quickly changed to obtain the desired position of the label on the bottle.

Another object of the present invention isthe provision of a bottle labeling device having bottle moistening means, means for sustaining labels and guiding bottles, and label positioning means mounted in convenient relation on a common base whereby the operations of moistening the bottle, positioning the label on the bottle and forming the label about the sides of the bottle, may be easily and quickly accomplished. a

' Further objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and accuracy of operation, and adjustability to various labeling requirements.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the device as arranged for dual labeling whereby the operator may take a bottle in each hand and simultaneously moisten the bottles, position them 'to pick up and position a label thereon, and to form the labels about the bottles and secure them in this position for a period ofv time.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a bottle labeling Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the bottle moisteners and a label sustaining and bottle guiding means;

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view'of the mech- I anism shown in Fig, 4. v

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a bottle with the extended label secured thereto; and,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a bottle with the label secured to its one side, in'solid lines, and formed against its opposite sides, indotted lines.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters designate similar parts, and the numeral ll] is abase having a vertical portion I2, a horizontal section I4 and a downwardly in' clined portion Hi. This base is preferably made of sheet metal'formed as shown, however, it may be flanged or ribbed to prevent undue deflection, if desired.

' This base member ID is secured by means of screws l8, to a table top with the horizontal section positioned below the top surface of the table,

Positioned above the horizontal portion l4 and adjustably secured by means of bolts 22, is an angled bracket 24 which serves as a base for the label positioning means. This bracket 24 may be vertically adjusted by loosening nuts 26 and moving the bracket with the parallel slots 28 moving relative to the stationary bolts 22. After the bracket, has been properly positioned, the nuts 26 may be again tightened to secure the parts in fixed relation. Bracket 24 is provided with a series of vertically disposed rods 30 on which is fitted. a rectangular partition 32 made of a resilient material, such as sponge rubber.

Adjustable side angles 34 operate in conjunction with the angled bracket structure 24 and H are adjusted for horizontal movement by means of bolts 36 mounted in slots 38, which in turn are formed in the vertical base portion l2. Each of the side angles 34 is provided with an outwardly extending arm'40 with an inturned lower lip 42, on which rests a resilient rectangular pad 44.

These pads are normally positioned parallel with the center partition 32 and are adjustable transversely thereto to accommodatebottles of different dimensions. It will be noted by referring to Figs. l and 2 that the bottles passing through this label positioning means are slightly embedded in the resilient walls of the partition and side members, thereby insuring a constant pressure against the labels for a suflicient period of time to permit the adhesive to set. The bottles are inserted at the point removed from the table and are delivered to the table so as to form a row of bottles on the table top.

It is very apparent that when a predetermined number of bottles have been positioned on the table top 20 that they may be moved transversely to the line of bottles so as to permit the delivery of two more lines of bottles. This opera-,

tion may be continuedv until the table has been completely filled with labeled bottles. l r The downwardly inclined portion. lb of the base is provided at its extremities with bottle moistening means 36. comprises a box member 48 having a resilient member 5| mounted therein and extending above the top thereof, to present a groove 50 through which the bottle maybe drawn. This resilient member 5i is covered with an absorbent material 52 which is kept moist by the application of water. The groove 50 extends longitudinally of the box and is of a width slightly less than the dimension of the bottle to be moistened.

By drawing the bottle through the groove so that its three sides contact the absorbent material, they will become sufliciently moistenedto pick up a label as hereinafter described.

It will be observed that this labeling device is constructed in sucha manner as to presentidentical structures at each sideof the center line thereof, in order to make it possible for the operator to take a bottle in each hand and siniul-= taneously perform the various operations, thereby substantially doubling the rate of labeling.

Since the two label sustaining and bottle guiding means 5A) are identical in structure, but reversed for the right and leftnand operation, but one of these will be now described. 7

For convenience this means 54 is positioned on the downwardly inclined base portion 58 intermediate the two bottle moistening means, and comprises a series of parallel standards 55, 58, 66, 62, 6 3, 66 and 68. Standards 68 and 62 are rigidly attached by means of bolts it, to the base portion it, the faces of these standards being disposed in a common plane.

Standards 56 and 65 are mounted for transverse movement in sockets F2 secured by screws 14 to the base member. Standards and 66 are each provided with a guide rod 76 which ex tends through the socket opening 18. v A set screw 80 mounted in socket l2 serves to clamp guide rod against movement. These standards 56 and 5% are in alignment with standards 68 and 62 respectively, and may be moved toward and from said standards to conform to the width of the label L being used.

Standard 58 intermediate standards 56 and 50 is provided with a supporting arm 82 slidably mounted in bracket 84 positioned beneath base portion l5 and secured therein by means of set screw 86. It will be noted that standard 58 extends through a slot 88 formed in the base member. Standard 58 is adjustable lengthwise of the label stack and a similar standard M at the opposite end of the stack, is positioned intermediate standards 62 and 56 and issupported on a guide rod 88 which'is slidably mounted in socket 90 and adapted to be secured in a fixed position by means of a set screw 92. In order to avoid interference with the other mechanism, guide rod 33 isslightly ofiset, as clearly shown in Fig.

By means of these six adjustable standards, it is very apparent that labels of different sizes may be properly positioned so as .to preclude accidental shifting. As a precaution to prevent more than one label following each bottle from the stack, it will be observed that the faces of the standards 56, til, 62 and .66 are roughened to present downwardly projecting barbs 9d.

The labels to be used with this device are of the standard type with one side covered with an adhesive-said side of the label being always at the top side of the stack so that a moistened bottle pressed thereagainst, will adhere to the label and lift the top label from the stack.- In placing the bottle on top of thestack ofllabels, it be- This moistening means comes necessary to provide bottle guiding means to insure a definite anduniform positioning of the label on the bottle. This is accomplished by holding one side of the bottle against the inner edges of standards 62 and 66, as shown in Fig. 4. This makes it possible to center the bottle on the label.

For the purpose of determining the vertical spacing of a label on the bottle, standard 68 is adapted to be moved transversely of the stack of labels so as to limit the downward movement of thebottle. This standard68 is provided with .a bifurcated foot 96, thus presenting a slot 98 "through which bolt H30 extends. provided with a nut M2 by means of which standard 68 is secured in fixed position relative to f This bolt is the stack of labels. Standard 68 is narrower than the bottle, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, thus making it possible for the operator to maintain his grip *at both ends of the bottle during the label positioning operation. Guide rods 'ISare flat along one side to receive set screw 80 to maintain standard 66 in a predetermined position, v

In the operation of this device, theoperator grasps a bottle B between the thumb and forefinger, draws it throughslot 50 which has been moistened, thus moistening the three sides of the bottle. This operation is preferably performed with an upward movement of .the bottle.

On the downward movement of the bottle,.the

operator positions the bottle against standards 66, 32 and 68 and presses down on the bottle so that it contacts the top label of the stackand adheres thereto so that the label is removed from the stack and is in the position shown on the bottles as illustrated in Figs. 6and 7.

and 32 of the label positioning means thereby forcing the label against the three sides of the bottle..

Due to the fact that several bottles are constantly positioned in this label positioning means,

He'nowg. forces the bottle between resilient members 44' each bottle will remain therein a suflicient length of time to permit the label to definitely adhere to the bottle.

tioned to contact the edges of a label to secureit in position against transverse movement, certain of said standards serving to act asguides to engageone side of said bottle, certain opposed standards of said series being adjustably mounted below said base member to extend through said base slots to engage opposite ends of said label, and an adjustable guide standard adapted to engage the bottom of the bottle.

2. In a bottle labeling device, a series of transversely adjustable, parallel standards adapted tobe positioned to contact the edges of a stack of labels to secure them in'position, certain of said standards serving as guides to contacta side guide standard adapted to engage the bottom of said bottle to determine the vertical position of the labelon the bottle. 3. In abottle labeling .device a series of spaced as] This operation may be carried .on

simultaneously by the operator with both hands.

It is very evident that the bottle labeling de-A of the bottle to be labeled, and an adjustable apart parallel, transversely adjustable standards adapted to secure a series of superposed labels against lateral movement, the inner face of certain of said standards being roughened to preclude accidental upward movement of the labels; certain of said standards serving-as guides for one side of a bottle being labeled; and a standard parallel with. said series of standards and transversely adjustable thereto, to engage a portion of the bottom of said bottle to determine the vertical position of the label on the bottle;

4. In a bottle labeling device a series of spaced apart parallel, transversely adjustable standards transversely adjustable thereto, to engage the one edge portion of the bottom of said bottle to determine the vertical position of the label on 10 the bottle. I

' JOHN C. ROBINSON. 

